Northboro, MA --- Behind an 11 run seventh inning, the WPI baseball team run-ruled Fitchburg State 17-7 Friday afternoon at the New England Baseball Complex. The Engineers' 11 runs came via an error, some free passes, and three hits, including a game-stopping double to left center from Joe Salvon (Longmeadow, MA) that brought home the final two runs of the game.  

WPI (6-5) finished the game with nine hits and while drawing 12 walks, as Kyle Johns (Milltown, NJ) led the way with three, as well as a 1-for-2 effort, driving in two runs while scoring another trio. Dylan Connors (Westboro, MA) finished with a 3-for-4 effort, including a home run, driving in two runs and scoring three while Jacob Hand (Niskayuna, NY) blasted a three-run shot while drawing two base-on-balls on the day.  

Andrew Gray (Millersville, MD) got the start on the mount for WPI pitching five complete innings, allowing four earned runs on five hits, and striking out six. Both Alexander Mondro (Westford, MA) and Jack Gomes (Newport, RI) pitched an inning of relief with Gomes coming away with the victory, his second of the year, tossing the seventh inning.  

WPI put up a four-spot in the first inning, thanks to Hand's homer and added another run in the bottom of the second before Fitchburg State was able to get on the board. The Falcons added three runs in the top of the third after a bases loaded groundout by Zachary Morris (Salen, NH) and a two-RBI single from Connor Morehouse (Wetherby Lake, MO). But the Engineers responded in the bottom half of the inning adding another run to the total and make it a 6-3 ballgame after three.  

Fitchburg State evened the score in the fourth inning with a pair of runs via the basepaths. A passed ball allowed the first run to score while Richard Sharp (Townsend, MA) stole home to make it a one-run game, 6-5. 

Neither team would score again until the seventh inning, where Fitchburg State would gain a 7-6 advantage after the top half off the inning, but WPI poured on the runs, beginning with a Connors roundtripper, and followed up with some patience at the plate to force three pitching changes for the Falcons. WPI drew seven walks, was hit by pitches twice, forced an error on a sacrifice bunt and took advantage of three wild pitches to put the 11 runs on the scoreboard and earn the seven-inning victory.  

The Engineers will look to keep the momentum going with a Sunday, March 27 doubleheader against Eastern Nazarene at Marlboro High School. First pitch of the doubleheader is scheduled for Noon. Fitchburg State will look to bounce back with a doubleheader on Saturday, March 26 against Plymouth State also beginning at Noon.